The Volunteer Movement: 10 Things Volunteers Can Do

The volunteer activities entails giving one's time voluntarily to help others without any pay-back. In Indonesia, poverty arises due to a lack of resources. The Population is trapped in the cycle of intergenerational poverty, which lacks food, healthcare facilities, and education. Poverty is an unacceptable human condition. 

However, the reality is that thousands, even millions, of people live in extreme poverty in Indonesia, and the majority of them are children. Therefore, many volunteer programs aim to address this issue.

The unequal distribution of income and wealth is the other cause of poverty in Indonesia. The gap between the rich and the poor is very high, and the national income distribution does not favor the poor.

Thus, the poor become poorer while the rich become richer. The human population in Indonesia has a high growth rate, but industries or job opportunities are very limited. Consequently, the unemployment rate is rapidly increasing, ultimately leading to poverty. 

The lack of well-paying jobs is a major contributor to poverty. The volunteer activities is a program aimed at improving the quality of human resources in Indonesia while alleviating this issue.

Understanding the Volunteer Movement

The volunteer movement is when someone dedicates their time voluntarily to do something beneficial for others without payment. Engaging in activities that benefit the community can be considered volunteering.

Being a volunteer can take on formal or informal forms. Formal volunteering is usually organized by charitable organizations or non-profit organizations, while informal volunteering occurs within communities. 

The volunteer movement is a choice made freely by individuals who donate their time. Formal volunteering is typically done through charitable organizations, non-profit organizations, or other community groups.

Activities Within the Volunteer Movement
The volunteer movement is an activity typically organized by many humanitarian and charity organizations, involving volunteers in various ways. Some of the activities carried out by volunteers include:

• Fundraising
• Acting as trustees (a voluntary role with legal responsibilities for charity)
• Supporting or running events
• Campaigning
• Providing insights
• Offering advice, guidance, or information
• Monitoring and conserving wildlife
• Providing first aid
• Offering legal assistance
• Administrative support.

Who Can Become a Volunteer?

The volunteer movement is an activity open to anyone. Everyone has the right to become a volunteer. Volunteers can be from any age and from any background. They can be students, workers, or even retirees.

They may be employees of a company given time off to volunteer. They could be medical or legal professionals who donate their time for free. Every volunteer has their reasons for volunteering, including: 

• Gaining experience for work or career change
• Supporting meaningful goals for them
• Meeting other people
• Representing others, such as union representatives
• Contributing to the local community
• Making something better
• Using their skills or experience to help others
• Doing something entirely different or new
• Learning new skills
• Continuing their professional development.

Why Should I Get Involved in the Volunteer Movement?

The volunteer movement is a movement followed by people because it provides them with a platform to express their interests or goals, and also to feel a sense of connection with their community. The volunteer movement is a platform to meet like-minded individuals and make friends, thus providing a great work-life balance.

Of course, there is also the aspect of 'feeling-good-about-sharing-kindness' experienced by most people when they know they are helping someone.

The volunteer movement is an activity that allows you to build career skills, stay engaged, and build a broad network while gaining work experience. It provides so many benefits.

Why do organizations need volunteers?

In essence, organizations engage in the volunteer movement because it is perceived that there is more work to be done than there is money available to pay people for their services. Without volunteers, many nonprofit organizations would not have the funds to establish their organization from the outset, in order to continue their work.

The volunteer base with larger percentage of the organization's proceeds can be used to directly support its mission, such as assisting disadvantaged children, rather than paying staff salaries. Organizations also rely on volunteers as a means to build community spirit and awareness, as well as to garner support.

How Much Time Is Given to Become a Volunteer?

If you're asking about time, then the answer is you can give as much as you can. Each role requires different time commitments, so you'll likely find a position that suits you. While some volunteers are required to engage in activities 5-4 times a year, others are needed twice a week for 6 months.

The great thing about organizations that facilitate the volunteer movement is that they often have the flexibility to schedule activities according to your availability. Nevertheless, organizations rely on their volunteers to operate effectively, so they require your commitment and professionalism. Just like paid work, you're expected to be reliable and punctual.

Volunteers are not employees and are not covered by labor laws. It's crucial to understand the difference between paid staff and volunteers. It should always be clear that:

• Volunteering is a choice
• Volunteer roles are not the same as employee roles
• Volunteers are not substitutes for paid staff.

Although being a volunteer is an unpaid commitment, it's still important to take responsibility seriously. Being an enthusiastic, reliable, team-oriented, patient, creative, energetic, positive, helpful, compassionate, and organized volunteer will ensure that you are a great asset to your team.

Lastly, make sure to weigh the cost of covering all your expenses compared to choosing a program with weekly or monthly fees. The difference might not be as much as you think!

If you're looking for volunteer activities online, you'll find several companies offering this volunteer movement, placing Indonesian volunteers in volunteer programs in various regions. 

You'll also find organizations recruiting volunteers directly for various types of programs.

You can also easily join the Wahana Visi Indonesia volunteer program, visit their website for more comprehensive information about volunteer activities at https://wahanavisi.org/.